By Mary Tucker | Senior Communications and Content Manager | IAEE
From tax policy shifts to tariff uncertainties to workforce challenges and travel restrictions, political developments in Washington, D.C. are directly impacting how we plan, execute and participate in business events. As we continue navigating these complex waters, understanding the advocacy efforts working on behalf of the exhibitions and events industry has never been more important.
Which is what makes active involvement with the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) so essential. The ECA serves as the industry’s voice on Capitol Hill, working to ensure that U.S. policymakers understand the unique needs and substantial economic impact of the business events sector – an industry projected to drive $426.1 billion in spending nationwide in 2025 and employ 2.63 million Americans.
ECA’s Executive Vice President Tommy Goodwin will be sharing the latest developments from Washington and providing actionable guidance on how industry professionals can engage in advocacy efforts in IAEE’s upcoming webinar, ECA Advocacy Update: Exhibitions And Events In A Politics-First World.
A seasoned government affairs professional with more than 20 years of advocacy experience, Tommy’s insights on the current political landscape and what lies ahead for 2026 offer valuable perspective for anyone involved in our industry. Here, he offers an insider view into the latest U.S. policy shifts he will be discussing in his presentation and what it means for your upcoming exhibitions and events.
Taxes, talent, tariffs and travel are key focus areas for 2026. Could you dive deeper into one of these “four T’s” and how developments in that area may affect our industry going forward?
Tommy: The issue du jour in Washington, D.C., remains tariffs. Since January, tariff policy changes have been coming at the industry fast and furious, especially when it comes to President Trump’s “emergency” tariffs – the baseline, reciprocal, and fentanyl tariffs that have been in the headlines.
On 5 November, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Learning Resources v. Trump, a case that challenges the constitutionality of those tariffs. If the Supreme Court declares that those tariffs are unconditional, which ECA supports, those particular tariffs will go away. That doesn’t mean the end of tariffs, but going forward, the industry should have more time to plan and prepare for future tariff policy decisions.
With the current administration and Congress, what are the biggest opportunities for B2B events over the next two years, and conversely, what policy threats should industry professionals be most concerned about?
Tommy: Earlier this year, both ECA’s top future workforce priorities were signed into law as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Section 529 savings plans now cover licenses and certifications, like IAEE’s CEM Learning Program, while new workforce Pell Grants will soon pay for high-quality skills training. These new laws will significantly help the industry attract and train its next-generation workforce.
ECA wants Congress and the Trump administration to keep the momentum going and seek out additional ways to equip people with the skills and credentials necessary to have good paying jobs in our industry.
On the flip side, along with tariffs, I continue to be concerned about travel policies that make it harder for would-be exhibitors and attendees abroad to come to U.S. events. The pending $250 visa integrity fee is just one example of a policy that will increase costs for all our international customers if not further delayed or scaled back. ECA will continue to support such efforts.
Given your extensive experience in government affairs across multiple industries, what makes advocacy for our industry uniquely challenging? Are there lessons from other business sectors that could help strengthen our voice in Washington?
Tommy: For too many policymakers, our industry remains America’s best-kept secret. ECA is doing everything that it can to make sure that elected and appointed officials in Washington, D.C. and beyond know about the critical role that we play in driving economic growth, supporting job creation, empowering small businesses, and helping solve our most urgent societal challenges across the country and around the world.
Since its founding, ECA has been working 24/7/365 to make sure that we are telling the industry’s story to the policymakers who matter. And when they understand the impact of our industry, great things happen. From the OBBA tax and workforce policy wins to increased State Department funding for visa backlogs to the FTC rule targeting industry scammers, when the industry is front and center, it can create positive changes that benefit all of us.
Through ECA’s Legislative Action Day (LAD), you work closely with industry volunteers to help U.S. policymakers understand the “big picture” significance and value we deliver. What progress have you seen in getting legislators to recognize exhibitions and events as essential to the broader economy?
Tommy: As you mentioned earlier, the broader U.S. business and professional events industry will employ more than 2.6 million people nationwide and drive more $426 billion in direct spending in communities nationwide. It’s just like IAEE says: exhibitions and events mean business!
Thanks to the continued lobbying efforts of ECA, and all the wonderful industry leaders and advocates who engage with ECA on Legislative Action Day and year-round, there is a much better understanding among lawmakers about our collective impact. It’s always heartening to hear folks who take part in Legislative Action Day talking about how they’re not introducing the industry on Capitol Hill anymore.
Industry professionals may feel disconnected from the advocacy process or unsure how they can make a difference. Aside from LAD, how can they support ECA’s efforts and advocate for policies that benefit our industry?
Tommy: Last year, we launched the ECA Advocacy Network to give folks across the industry an opportunity to make their voices heard throughout the year. We have four key programs that people can take part in without needing to come to Washington, D.C.:
- ECA Action Center, which allows anyone in the industry to contact their members of Congress and other elected officials about ECA’s public policy priorities directly from the ECA website with just a few clicks.
- Social Influencer Program, which encourages people who sign up to engage on social media to educate their network, the general public, and policymakers from coast to coast on ECA’s top issues and important advocacy opportunities.
- Show Floor Program, which brings policymakers to trade shows and conferences across the United States to show them first-hand how our industry operates and the direct impact we have in their backyards.
- Op-Ed Program, which helps the industry weigh in on key public policy decisions coming out of Washington, D.C. by writing a letter to the editor or op-ed in their local newspaper or media outlet.
Looking beyond 2026, what long-term trends do you believe will most significantly shape the regulatory and legislative environment for exhibitions and events, and how should industry leaders prepare for these changes?
Tommy: International issues – especially tariffs and international travel – will continue to be front and center in 2026 and beyond. In the longer term, I would keep an eye on sustainability. While that issue had been moved to the back burner inside the Beltway, the industry still needs to monitor developments in this space and keep making the investments to ensure that we maintain control of our collective path to Net Zero. At some point, U.S. policymakers will reengage here, and exhibitions and events companies need to be ahead of the curve when that happens.
